A glimpse into one of my current side projects: a Westerosi Icon of Baelor the Blessed!
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“The value of the myth is that it takes all the things we know and restores to them the rich significance which has been hidden by ‘the veil of familiarity.’ The child enjoys his cold meat, otherwise dull to him, by pretending it is buffalo, just killed with his own bow and arrow. And the child is wise. The real meat comes back to him more savory for having been dipped in a story…by putting bread, gold, horse, apple, or the very roads into a myth, we do not retreat from reality: we rediscover it.”
-C.S. Lewis
Avocado Fries
Thoughts:
They are SO good! Appealingly crunchy on the outside, the avocado warm on the inside. They make a terrific side, snack, appetizer, or even a vegetarian filling for tacos. Sprinkled with a little salt, they are divine. Be sure to invite friends over, though, or you might eat all of them yourself!
Recipe for Avocado Fries
Makes about 20 pieces
Prep: 10 minutes Frying: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
- oil for frying
- 1/4 cup flour
- About 1/2 tsp. salt
- 2 large eggs, beaten with a small splash of water
- 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
- 2 firm-ripe medium avocados, pitted, peeled
Begin by slicing the avocado in half, then into quarters. Then slice each quarter into 2-3 pieces. This should give you 8-12 pieces per avocado.
In a medium saucepan, heat 1 1/2 in. oil to medium. In a bowl, mix flour with 1/4 tsp. salt in a shallow plate. Put eggs and panko on separate shallow plates. Dip avocado in flour, shaking off excess. Dip in egg, then panko to coat.
Fry a quarter of avocado slices at a time until deep golden, 30 seconds to a minute. Transfer slices to a plate lined with paper towels. Sprinkle with extra salt to taste.
We have learned so very much over the past year, about blogging, photography, and historical cooking. The cookbook process was veritable trial by fire, and we had to accomplish a great deal in a relatively short amount of time. We’ve gone from photographing dishes in the kitchen with our phones:
…to published authors with an eye for edible aesthetics:
But now, about a year and a half after starting this blog, we find ourselves, ironically, approaching a crossroad.
In time, inevitably, we will run out of new Westeros foods to make. It seems nearly impossible, given the sheer size of the books, but in over a year, we’ve made hundreds of recipes. A far cry from our original goal of about 100 recipes, we’ve now completed more than
132 dishes, and over 208 total recipes!
Clearly, we got carried away.
But since we’ve enjoyed our time at The Inn so much, we would like to see it turn into something new, rather than just fizzle out. We have a few ideas, but as always, we’d love to get your input! An historical food blog? A medieval chatroom? A shadowy corner for Westerosi conspiracy theorists?
What would you like to see The Inn transition into? At least, of course, while we wait for The Winds of Winter, because you know that if GRRM writes it, we’ll try to cook it. ;)
And for fictional food from other worlds, be sure to check out Chelsea’s blog, Food Through the Pages.
“Cookery means the knowledge of Medea and of Circe and of Helen and of the Queen of Sheba. It means the knowledge of all herbs and fruits and balms and spices, and all that is healing and sweet in the fields and groves and savory in meats. It means carefulness and inventiveness and willingness and readiness of appliances. It means the economy of your grandmothers and the science of the modern chemist; it means much testing and no wasting; it means English thoroughness and French art and Arabian hospitality; and, in fine, it means that you are to be perfectly and always ladies — loaf givers.
–John Ruskin, as quoted in the Boston Cooking School Cookbook, 1918
“Maybe they don’t have sheep and cattle, Bran thought. He commanded the serving men to bring them mutton chops and a slice off the aurochs and fill their trenchers with beef-and-barley stew. They seemed to like that well…” -A Clash of Kings
Beef-and-Barley Stew
Thoughts:
Thick and hearty, this is the kind of stew that will stick to your ribs. Because this soup, and many other variations similar to it, are served in the North, I’ve only included ingredients we know they have. I’d recommend you use this recipe as a starting point and mix in your own choice of ingredients, as available and desired.
This version holds a delicate balance between barley, meat, and veg. The barley and turnip give the stew some heft, while the carrots provide a much welcome burst of color. The beef softens as it stews, and each spoonful holds a different combination of filling. Pair with our white or black breads, and you’ll be as happy as a crannogman in a bog.
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Mushroom. Puff Pastry. Parmesan. Balsamic.
Rich, savory, and delicious, these mushroom straws are an easy snack for parties. Guests will marvel at their deliciousness, never suspecting how simple they were to make. I, for one, ate about half a batch on my own throughout the course of the day. Normally, I would be embarrassed to admit such, but I think you will agree, once you’ve tasted one, that they’re difficult to stop eating.
Puff pastry, in my opinion, is always a win.
But go on to fill it with this savory puree, and it becomes even better. The balsamic, while not quite robust enough to feature in the flavor, helps to round out the woodsy flavor of the mushrooms. The saltiness of the Parm stands out without overpowering the other components, and the pinch of pepper gives just a hint of a bite.
Truly, try these out the next time you’re expecting guests, and watch how quickly they go!
Mushroom Straws Recipe
Prep: 5 minutes Baking: 15 minutes
Makes about 40 short straws
Ingredients:
- 1 box puff pastry (17.3 oz.)
- 1 shallot
- 3 Tbs. butter
- 2 oz. mushrooms
- 2 tsp. Balsamic vinegar
- 3 Tbs. grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg, beaten, for wash
- poppy seeds (optional)
Thaw the puff pastry.
In a pan over medium heat, saute the shallot in butter until it’s soft. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring, for a few minutes until the mushrooms are also soft. Remove from heat, and puree the shallots and mushrooms, along with all the butter, and the balsamic, in a food processor.
Preheat the oven to 400F, and line a couple of baking sheets with parchment paper. Spread out your thawed puff pastry. If it is one sheet, cut into even halves. Gently spread the mushroom filling over the whole bottom sheet of pastry, making sure to go straight to the edges. Lay the top half of the pastry over this.
Brush the top of the pastry with a beaten egg, and sprinkle with a few poppy seeds. With a sharp knife, or a pizza cutter, slice the filled dough into strips about 1/2″ wide. Place the strips on the prepared baking sheets, twisting some, if you like, for visual diversity.
Bake the mushroom straws for about 15 minutes, or until they are a rich golden brown. Allow them to cool for a few minutes before serving.
This post is dedicated to Tundra, Olga, and Apollo. :)
Our direwolf’s thoughts:
The kitchen can be torture for a pet with a culinary inclined owner. I know my own direwolf sits proper for the entire time I’m cooking, in hopes of receiving scraps. We’ve concocted these biscuits so you don’t have to feel guilty looking into those big brown eyes every time you pick up your chef’s knife. Simply toss one of these down to your most loyal friend.
I wanted to make a treat that had no fillers, no grains, and could be easily made in a standard stocked kitchen. There are no crazy ingredients, and nothing bad for your dog. When developing this recipe, I did a series of scientific experiments along the way to ensure that the dogs thought it was as yummy as it looked to me. When they licked my hands clean of the raw mixture, I knew it was ready for the oven.
End result – all three dogs these biscuits were tested on loved them. Everyone was sitting pretty, politely asking for another round after the initial taste test.
We have our first two four winners!
1) PGSmith
2) Steven Lefebvre
3) Jen Anderson
4) Katie Hilton
Congrats to our winners, and we hope the rest of you are not without your own copies for too long!
Even if you didn’t win, many of you get an honorable mention for great comments. You had us laughing, blushing, and so thoroughly flattered that we decided we simply had to include the best of them here. Enjoy.
I have already informed my family that we will be having a Westerosi-themed Christmas dinner this year. :D
Please give this comment a look,
For I’d like to win a cookbook.
It would be so cool to cook,
the awesome recipes from your book!
Winter is coming and the dark night is full of terrors…. I think it’s time for some comfort food, don’t you? I know of a great cookbook that would help with it. If only I had one…. :D
” a Man needs to eat…” <—- My best Jaqen H’Ghar impression. On a more serious note, I love just about everything about this site. I have made multiple dinners, lunch and breakfast using Inn at the Crossroads. In fact, today i graduated from college and for my grad dinner i asked for some Honeyed Chicken instead of going to some fancy restaurant. Lets hope the parents don’t screw it up. Anyway, congrats on the fabulous cook book, winning one would be awesome! Keep up the good work ladies!
the night is young and full of terriers,they must be fed!
By the Seven Gods of the Andals! I’d love to get one of these!
It would be an honor to win such a book of food goodness. So glad your dream is being realized, win or not I for see a copy in my possession in the near future, the flames tell all.
The things I do for love…of cookbooks.
I will pray the Old gods and the new for this cookbook. Hope this gets to Lima, Peru.
Winter is coming to the Southern Hemisphere
Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until dinner is complete. I shall feed my wife, garden my lands, distract the cats from jumping on the counter. I shall wear no aprons and win no cooking contests. I shall prep and serve at my post. I am the knife in the darkness. I am the blender on the counter. I am the fire that lightly renders the fat, the broiler that chars the trout, the dinner bell that wakes the hungry, the sauté pan that satisfies the realms of men. I pledge my life and honor to the Night’s Kitchen, for this night and all the nights to come.
I want this cookbook, for my belly is empty and full of rumbles (for Westerosi cooking!)
*Sansa pout* Please? It’s the only thing I ever wanted!
If I get a cookbook I will probably lose my job because I’ll just cook everything in it instead of going to work. That said… bring it on.
I can’t wait for the cookbook! I’ve been cooking along with the blog. Thanks for making Game of Thrones come alive for me!
By the old gods and the new, this is FAN.TASTYc !
… worked on that one for a while (:
My heart booms like galloping Dothraki horsemen. My stomach growls like the wolves of Winterfell. I hunger for the cookbook and its bounty of dishes and drinks from Westeros to Essos! May my flagon be ever full of joy if I am selected for the cookbook giveaway!
– Isaac, Lord of Donuts
If anybody gets between those books and I, and iassakka daughter of iassakka, will cut off his manhood and feed it to the goats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If I get a book here at Spain, I’ll be grateful to you, your sons, and the sons of your sons. I swear it by the old Gods and the new.
It’s my turn to host Thankgiving and my brother is a chef. This book may be my only hope.
I’m buying it regardless. If I win one, then I’d still buy one to keep with my GoT books.
That way I’ll have a copy without gravy stains. :)
COOK ALL THE THINGS!
I always burn my bacon until it turns black.
I’m continually amazed at the lengths the two of you go to come up with recipes and procure some of the less common ingredients to replicate the dishes mentioned in the books; and the attention to detailing you do to stage the photos for the website. Good luck with the book. It’s really nice to see hard work and passion rewarded.
In the name of the Old Cooks and the New
We do not sow
Hear me boar,
The seed is wrong
Only feast for a crow.
Chop the boar
Slaugther the fowl,
The chicken wings are rising
Brace your selves, dinner is coming.
The kitchen is dark and full of meat
But a Lannister always pays his meal!
This book should be in my home
Don’t hesitate – it is known!
I can’t wait! I need some recipes for all those pigeons in my freezer ;]
I hereby swear by the Maiden, Mother, & Crone that I shall use your sacred book to prepare the finest feast ever seen in or out of the Seven Kingdoms, one that would make that gourmand Tyrion Lannister my lifelong love slave. . .
Failing that, I can only promise to cook my ass off if I get a copy, & invite you two to chow down. :-)
Honor to you and your Houses for this! I planned on getting multiple copies, so this will make a good start!
I can’t wait for this to come out! It is going to be my default gift for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and Christmas!
If it earned me that free signed cookbook, I’d cook for all 40,000 of Drogo’s men, and their horses too!
Oh. Ever since I found this website, I knew I had to get a copy of your book! Someday I’m going to find the flimsiest of silk gowns, grab a crown, and lay around munching Dany’s dinner while watching a Game of Thrones marathon. I mean, why not be queen for a day? :D
I would defenstrate a thousand small children to get my hands on a copy of this book.
Your blog is brilliant, and I hope your book is very very successful! If I don’t win, I’ll be putting the book on my wedding list. :D
As a chef who has worked in Antarctica and the Arctic Circle I’m ready for the cookbook even if I have to go to the wall to get it.
I’ve spent all my money on wine and whores. Take pity on me, and throw a book my way! *grins*
GUYS!
These magical boxes appeared on our porch today:
They were full of cookbooks!
And because we wouldn’t be here without all of you, we want to share.
We are giving away Four SIGNED copies of the cookbook before the release date!
Enter by posting a comment below. Everyone is only allowed one entry, but you are allowed to comment more than once. The more banter, the better, as far as we’re concerned!
The entry deadline is Noon on Wednesday, May 16th, at which point two winners will be selected randomly.
UPDATE!
We have selected two winners for the blog drawing! However, you can still enter the giveaway for another two books on Goodreads. No harm in hedging your bets. ;) Open to all fans, everywhere.
Good Luck!
